Writing skill will take 166 Alberta school children to the Vancouver Olympics, including at least eight from Red Deer and neighbouring communities.
ATCO Group, in partnership with the Government of Alberta and WinSport Canada, has announced winners of a contest celebrating excellence among Alberta youth.
The corporation invited students in Grades 4 to 12 to write short essays describing how they demonstrate leadership or commitment to their community.
“To be a leader, you cannot expect everyone to respect you. You have to show respect to others first,” wrote Grade 7 student Amy Trenson, one of the local students who gets an expense-paid trip to Vancouver with a parent or adult guardian.
ATCO drew names for the contest and did not judge the entries, said Rick Boguski, senior advisor, external communications for the company.
For the top prize of a trip to the games, one boy and one girl were drawn from each of the province’s 83 political constituencies. A third name was drawn from each constituency for the secondary prize, a laptop computer.
Olympic winners are:
• Eric Meraw, Grade 7, St. Patrick’s Community School, Red Deer,
• Shadye Hingsburger, Grade 6, Eastview Middle School, Red Deer,
• Ethan Brown, Grade 10, Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School, Red Deer,
• Brooke Cassidy, Grade 6, St. Francis, Red Deer,
• Shanaya Doyle, Grade 9, Mother Theresa, Sylvan Lake,
• Nathan Matheson, Grade 5, St. Marguerite, Innisfail,
• Kaine Krause, Grade 6, Iron Ridge Junior Campus, Blackfalds
• Amy Trenson, Grade 7, Rimbey Jr. High School.
All eight will get tickets to the games and medal ceremonies along with a visit and lunch at Alberta House in downtown Vancouver, said Boguski.
Computers go to Amy Andrew and Avery Klassen of Red Deer, Rachelle Jans of Bowden and Shania Kjenner of Ponoka.
Nancy Southern, president of ATCO Group, said it is clear from the thousands of entries received that many young Albertans are making a difference in their communities.
Shayde Hingsbuger wrote in her submission that while she is not very athletic, she continues to make an effort.
“Every winter, I shovel my neighbours’ sidewalk while they are away because it feels good to get that big weight off your shoulders, even for me.”